Sanitary lavatory.



F. E. COREY.

SANITARY LAVATORY.

APPLIG'ATION FILED APR.15, 191s.

Patented Aug. 5

WITNESSES FRANCIS E. COREY, OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA.

SANITARY LAVATORY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

Application filed April 15,1913; Serial No. 761,256.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANGIS E. Corny, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alhambra. in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Lava tories, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sanitary lavatorics, and it has for its object to provide a lavatory for general use in both public places and buildings and in private dwellings or other quarters, by the use of Which the hands may be conveniently and effectively cleaned and purged of accumulation of dirt, germs and the like.

The invention is distinguished particu larly by the provision of means whereby one hand may be bathed or washed without the use of the other hand, the invention providing a part or structure over which the hand, and particularly the fingers and the inner surfaces thereof, may be caused to pass under the action of water or the like medium, accompanied by a certain rubbing or abrasive action assisting in the cleansing of the surfaces. In this respect, the invention differs radically from the usual lavatory of any sort, which is merely a receptacle for the liquid bath into which the hands are plunged and worked each over the surfaces of the other in the cleansing action. It is intended to provide, in accordance with the invention, convenient means whereby the hands successively may be quickly and effectively cleaned, particularly at and upon the inner surfaces specified, and it thus follows that the user may employ this lavatory when but one hand is free, the other being utilized to hold or carry a package, bundle, traveling bagarticle of wearing apparel, or other device or article.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a projecting member or part over which water is caused to flow, either continuously or at the will of the user, and to which one hand at a time may be presented, the surface of such member or part being preferably channeled to direct sub-currents of water, within which the fingers may be placed; and the outer surfaces of such part or member being preferably roughened to a greater or less extent to produce the required abrasive action to assist in thecleansing action. Any suitable substance or solvent or disinfectant or aseptic. or. the. like,

may, if desired, be supplied with the cleansing flow of water. This part or member is suitably mounted upon a pedestal or the like, which may be conveniently installed at street corners, in public buildings, or in private dwellings or offices or other places, and in connection with it may be provided a supply of toweling or tissue paper or other material for use in drying the cleansed hands; and a further receptacle for such waste or soiled towels or sheets or the like may further be mounted upon the support of the pedestal. By frequent use of such embodiment of the invention the hands, and particularly the inner surfaces thereof, may be kept comparatively clean and free from accumulation of germs and thus, to a great extent, as I have determined, reducing the danger of the spreading of germs and infec tion' thereby.

The invention has for further particular objects the provision of a sanitary lavatory which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, neat-ness of appearance, compactness in form, durability, and convenience in use, and which will be generally superior in efficiency and serviceability.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the provision, construction, formation and combination and inter-relation of parts, members and features, both broadly and specifically, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawing and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sanitary lavatory embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, centrally thereof, parts being broken away for fullness of illustration; F ig. is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of an essential part or member of the sanitary lavatory, partly in section; Fig. 4 is a similar view, with added parts, in a line of vision at right angles to that shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken upon the line a0 -o0 Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the appended arrows; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partially sectioned, enlarged view of a portion. of the construc tion shown in the other figures, and whereby thecontrol of water or cleansing fluid may beefl'ected.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referringwith particularity to. the drawing, the sanitary lavatory constituting the invention, as embodied in the disclosure of the drawing. comprises a projecting part or working member A to which extends suitable liquid supply means P whereby water or other fluid, or water with other substances in solution or admixture, may be provided at the projecting working memher A. for application to the hands. 6 designates controlling means for the liquid supply means B, being shown as adapted for :tootoperation. The projecting working member A, in the form shown in the drawing, comprises a body 7 provided with a plurality of longitudinal spaced surface channels or depressions S constituting liquid courses for the liquids furnished by the supply means I At the forwardly and upardly presented end of the body 7 provided a rounded terminal cap 9, and the body 7, preferably oval in transverse sectional area, is semicylindrical, and tapers slightly in width from its outer to its inner end, having likewise a slight longitudinal curvature or bulge. The cleansing fluid flows lengthwise of the body 7 through the channels 8 away from the forwardly and upwardly presented end cap 9. The working member A is partially housed within a hood 10, open at its forward portion to permit access to the working memher, as at 11, and the hood and the work ing member are supported on a suitable upright or pedestal 12, at a height rendering the use of the working member convenient. Usually, if the working member is at such height as brings it approximately at the waist line of an adult person of average height, it will be found to be in the position mostconvenient for use. The hollow terminal cap 9 is mounted upon or formed upon the outer end of a liquid teed pipe 13 which ranges longitudinally of the body 7 and passes through a suitable opening in the lower rear portion of the wall of the hood 10. This tube 13 is threaded where it passes through such wall, at 10*, and a flanged nut it is screwed onto the same against the forward or inner face of the wall 10. the tubular body 7 having first been passed over the tube 7 between the end cap 9 and the flanged nut 14, and the inner end of the tube 7 having then been passed through the opening in the wall 10. The nut 14 has a shoulder 1% at its outer face over which ts the inner end of the body 7 and the inner wall of the cap 9 has a seat or recess 9 within which fits the outer end of the body 7 A washer 15 and nut 16 are applied to the inner end of the tube 13, rearwardly of the wall 10", holding the tube 13 in the said wall of the hood, and drawing the cap 9 at its recess 9 against the tubular body 7 at the forward end, and drawing the rearward end of the tubular supply means 1 body 7 against the shouldered end flanged nut 14- which bears at its inner face against the wall 10 and the tubular body is thus held firmly in position. A liquid supply pipe 17 is joined with the inner end of the tube 13 rearward of the wall 10 by a suitable union l8; and the pipe 17 is extended downwardly through the pedestal 12 to a valve 18 operated by a pedal 19, to control the flow of liquid from a service pipe 20 to and through the supply pipe 17. The cap 9 is provided in registration with the outer ends of the channels 8 with ports or openings 20 and when the flow of water or other liquid through the pipe 17 to the tube 13 is permitted, such liquid, filling the hollow cap 9, issues from said ports 20 and flows over the outer face of the body 7, down ardly and rearwardly and away from the user. Preferably, only four or five of such channels or water courses 8 are provided, say one for each of the four lingers of the human hand, and these are preferably arranged in the upper transversely ciurved surface of the body 7. A supply flow of water or other liquid may be permitted to continue normally over the surface of the body 7, keeping the same clean and in a sanitary condition, and permitting use of the lavatory without the actlultiou of the valve l8 or other part of the liquid Or, normally there may be an absence of any liquid flow over the body 7, such flow being initiated when the working member A is brought into service, by means of the pedal 19 or substitute or equivalent parts. Preferably, the upper or all the outer surface of the tubular body 7 is slightly roughened, as at 21, allowing an abrasive action upon the hand as it is passed over the body A in the cleansing action. To that end the body 7 may satisfactorily be formed of earthenwire. And the smooth cap 9 may consists of a. nickel plated brass :shell or the like. The palm of the hand may be brought to bear against the cap 9 and the inner surfaces of the fingers of the hand be worked laterally against the surface of the body 7. such surfaces being thus subjected to the flowing liquid in and escaping from the water courses 8. Such surfaces will thus be quickly cleansed, and first one hand and then the other may thus be treated, the working member A serving as an artificial hand in the action of washing one hand presented to it.

The waste water is received in the lower curved portion or basin of the hood 10. and passes thence through a waste pipe 22 downwardly through the pedestal 1.2. A roll of tissue paper 24 may be accommodated at the upper or inner portion of the hood 10, for use in drying the hands after they have been cleansed; and a. waste paper receptacle 25 is provided upon the pedestal 12, to receive such used paper. Toweling, of course, may be provided if preferred, but is, of course, less sanitary if such use is repetitious.

By so mounting and arranging the working member A that the flow of liquid is away from the user, the danger of splashing the clothes and person of the user is eliminated; and all of the soiled water is, with the germs, removed and led downwardly, rearwardly and away from the user and int-o the bottom of the hood and thence away through the waste pipe. A supplementary opening 20 may be formed in the terminal cap 9 communicating with the interior of the tubular body 7, supplying water to fill the cavity in such body, if the body be formed of porous material, such as earthenware, artificial stone or the like. The pressure of the water within the body 7 will cause the water to percolate through this porous body and thus supply cleansing fluid in the outer surfaces of the body; and this percolation will likewise cleanse the pores in the body preventing the accumulation of dirt and germs therein.

The method of use and advantages, sanita-ry and otherwise, of the invention, will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, and particularly when considered in connection with the observations made in the first part of this specification.

The entire apparatus may, modified in form and organization as conditions demand or warrant, readily and conveniently be installed in public buildings and places, as well as in homes and other private quarters, so that it may be frequently resorted to by persons desirous of keeping their hands at all times as free from dirt and germs as possible.

The use of the apparatus tends to establish habits of neatness and cleanliness, and a proper observation of the simple principles of sanitation, and such use will work a great reduction in the spread of disease and infection.

I do not desire to be understood as being limited, in a fair interpretation of the in vention, to any specific details and features of construction or combination, otherwise than set forth in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a working member over the surface of which the hand may be passed under cleansing action of a supply of liquid, and means for directing a supply of liquid through said body in one direction and over the surface of said body in another direction.

2. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a working member over which the hand may be passed under the action of a supply of cleansing liquid, and means supporting said working member in projection, said working member comprising an abrasive body having a superficial water course; and means for directing a stream of cleansing liquid through said water course.

3. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a work ing member over which the hand may be passed under the action of a supply of cleansing liquid, and means support-ing said working member in projection, said working member comprising a body having a superficial water course; and means for directing a stream of cleansing liquid through said vater course in a direction away from the user of the lavatory.

1-. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a working member over which the hand may be passed under the action of a supply of cleansing liquid, and means supporting said working member in projection, said working membercomprising a body provided with a superficial water course; and means for directing a supply of liquid through said body in one direction and through said water course in another direction.

5. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a working member over which the hand may be passed under the action of a supply of cleansing liquid, and means supporting said working member in projection, said working member comprising a body provided with a superficial water course; and means for directing a supply of liquid through said body in one direction and through said water course in another direction; said body being provided with an interior liquiddirecting tube and with a hollow cap at one end communicating with said tube and having an opening in registration with said water course.

6. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a working member over which the hand may be passed under the action of a supply of cleansing liquid, and means supporting said working member in projection, said working member comprising a transversely curved body provided in its upper surface with a plurality of spaced water courses, means for passing liquid to one end of said body in one direction, and means for thereupon passing the liquid in the reverse direction through said water courses.

7. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a working member over which the hand may be passed under the action of a supply of cleansing liquid, and means supporting said working member in projection, said working member comprising a tubular elongated body tapering in formation toward its inner end and provided with a plurality of superficial water courses ranging longitudinally of the body; and means for directing a current of liquid through said body in one direction and thereupon returning such liquid in the opposite direction through said water courses.

S. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a suitable support provided at its upper end with a hood having a forward opening, and a Working member disposed Within the hood and projecting toward said opening in up Ward inclination; and means for passing a stream of cleansing liquid over the surface of said Working member.

9. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a suitable support provided at its upper end With a hood having a forward opening, and a Working member disposed Within the hood and projecting toward said opening in upward inclination; and means for passing a stream of cleansing liquid over the surface of said Working member in a direction away from said opening.

10. A, sanitary lavatory, comprising a porous tubular Working member over which the hand may be passed under action of a supply of cleansing liquid, and means supporting said working member in projection; said working member comprising a tulmlar body, and means for directing a supply of liquid to the interior of said body.

ll. A sanitary lavatory, comprising a porous tubular working member overwhieh the handy may be passed under action of: a supply of cleansing liquid, and means snpporting said Working member in projection; said Working member comprising a tubular body, and means for directing a supply of liquid to the interior of the body; said body being provided with an interior liquiddirecting tube and with a hollow cap at one end communicating With said tube and hav ing an opening exterior of said body and a further opening communicating with the interior of said body.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANCIS 1*). COREY.

\Vitnesses ALFRED H. 1)AEHLER, D. M. CUMMINGS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

